# MLB: August 2016 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 1, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496 "2016-08-01T21:00:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/121 "2016-08-15T03:23:14Z")
Cool, thanks for the correction. Not sure if I misheard or if the announcing team had it slightly wrong. Not that it matters. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/122 "2016-08-15T05:51:28Z")
The Cubs let St Louis come back to win the last 2 of a 4-game set. Bullpen has been vulnerable this week. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/123 "2016-08-15T12:28:01Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Wasn’t he the guy they got for Cespedes? > > (I guess several pitchers have been traded for Cespedes. I mean the most recent one.) > > Sounds like he’s having a fine season, but it is enough for a Cy Young? He hasn’t pitched as much as most other starters, right? Yes. I think the Mets still do that trade, but not having Fulmer around is mighty inconvenient about now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/124 "2016-08-15T14:26:01Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Wasn’t he the guy they got for Cespedes? > > (I guess several pitchers have been traded for Cespedes. I mean the most recent one.) > > Sounds like he’s having a fine season, but it is enough for a Cy Young? He hasn’t pitched as much as most other starters, right? Fulmer is at 120 innings pitched. The serious Cy contenders are around 150-160 by now, so he’d have to have just about the greatest six weeks in MLB history to catch up. He HAS pitched enough innings to qualify as the ERA leader now, though, and he’s way ahead. Baseball Reference actually believes Fulmer is the most valuable starter in the AL. Fangraphs pegs him about 12th. The two sources use totally different ways of calculating value, I guess, though they both call it “Wins Above Replacement.” I think the truth lies somewhere in between them, which would still makle Fulmer one of the ten best starters in the AL. Not too shabby for a rookie, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/125 "2016-08-15T15:10:16Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Has anyone ever won the MVP one season after winning the RoY? Not quite, but Buster Posey was ROY in 2010, then missed most of 2011 after breaking his ankle in a collision at the plate. 2012 Comeback Player of the Year and NL MVP. Giants closer Santiago Casilla blew yet another save yesterday, this time by giving up a bottom of the ninth 2-out 3-run HR to Jonathan Schoop. Giants fans are gathering pitchforks and torches. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/126 "2016-08-15T15:40:07Z")
Bryant is not running away with it. I’d agree he’d win it if they held the vote today, but he’s not blowing the competition out of the water. If he had a bad September a few guys could pass him, like Corey Seager. OR his own teammate, Anthony Rizzo. Daniel Murphy’s having a helluva year, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/127 "2016-08-15T21:06:01Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Not quite, but Buster Posey was ROY in 2010, then missed most of 2011 after breaking his ankle in a collision at the plate. 2012 Comeback Player of the Year and NL MVP. > > Giants closer Santiago Casilla blew yet another save yesterday, this time by giving up a bottom of the ninth 2-out 3-run HR to Jonathan Schoop. Giants fans are gathering pitchforks and torches. I understand Papelbon is available… ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/128 "2016-08-15T21:28:20Z")
The day that Papelbon was released by the Nationals, was “Star Wars Day” at Nationals Park. I saw a Twitter posting of a few guys dressed as Stormtroopers outside the field. The caption was something to the effect of, “The Nationals aren’t screwing around when it comes to escorting Papelbon out of Washington.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/129 "2016-08-16T01:47:35Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Bryant is not running away with it. I’d agree he’d win it if they held the vote today, but he’s not blowing the competition out of the water. If he had a bad September a few guys could pass him, like Corey Seager. OR his own teammate, Anthony Rizzo. Daniel Murphy’s having a helluva year, too. CBS Sports suggested earlier today that Rizzo might actually be slightly ahead of Bryant in rhe MVP race. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/130 "2016-08-17T03:15:15Z")
I have to say, I really like what the Yankees have done with their bullpen in the past month or so. It’s nice to know that you still have a shot at scoring runs from the seventh inning on. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/131 "2016-08-17T03:49:07Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I have to say, I really like what the Yankees have done with their bullpen in the past month or so. It’s nice to know that you still have a shot at scoring runs from the seventh inning on. They just wanted to make sure that opposing teams had the same opportunities against the bullpen as they did against the starters. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/132 "2016-08-17T12:35:57Z")
There’s sure a lot of buzz about the division-leading Cleveland Indians, which may be the best team in the AL. Except in their ballpark, where they’re 28th out of 30 MLB teams in attendance. 13,000 plus last night, and just under 19,000 on Sunday (true, rain was in the forecast both days). Maybe the Indians need to crank up volume on the music even louder, and shoot off fireworks between each half-inning. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/133 "2016-08-17T12:49:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s sure a lot of buzz about the division-leading Cleveland Indians, which may be the best team in the AL. > > Except in their ballpark, where they’re 28th out of 30 MLB teams in attendance. 13,000 plus last night, and just under 19,000 on Sunday (true, rain was in the forecast both days). > > Maybe the Indians need to crank up volume on the music even louder, and shoot off fireworks between each half-inning. I agree that it’s sad, but as someone who follows the Indians closely, I can tell you that attendance has been up significantly in the past month or so based purely on images of the stands during the games. I don’t know why it’s so hard to get butts in those seats when there’s a legitimate product on the field, but at least _some_ additional folks are starting to show up. By comparison, I made it out for a couple of games in early May where the paid attendance was 11,022 and 8,766 against the division-rival Tigers (the latter being a game where Cy Young winner Cory Kluber pitched a five-hit complete-game shutout). And I can tell you that for both of those games, there were far fewer butts in the seats than the paid numbers reflected. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/134 "2016-08-17T12:50:53Z")
On another note, [this is a tremendous catch](http://m.mlb.com/news/article/195923584/anthony-rizzo-climbs-wall-to-catch-foul-ball/) by Anthony Rizzo, without question. But I’m a little puzzled about something. I thought there was a rule against completely leaving the field of play to make a catch. Can someone set me straight on exactly how that works? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/135 "2016-08-17T12:56:03Z")
Rizzo never left the field of play. The face and top of the wall is part of the field for the purpose of considering a fielder in or out of play. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/136 "2016-08-17T14:05:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Rizzo never left the field of play. The face and top of the wall is part of the field for the purpose of considering a fielder in or out of play. Thanks. In my head, the _top_ of the wall would have out of the field of play since I didn’t think it would be fan interference if a fan caught a ball there. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/137 "2016-08-17T14:12:34Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Thanks. In my head, the _top_ of the wall would have out of the field of play since I didn’t think it would be fan interference if a fan caught a ball there. It could be fan interference, depending on what the ump thinks. A ball can hit the top of the wall, and if it comes back to the field it’s a live ball. Most likely it’s going to bounce in the stands and be a home run, but sometimes not. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/138 "2016-08-17T14:28:31Z")
Chase Utley’s return to Philly was a memorable one. Philly fans gave him a 90 second standing ovation his first at bat. He then proceeded to send two balls out of the park, one a grand slam that just capped the game and the return of the Dodgers to their rightful place atop the NL West. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/139 "2016-08-17T14:52:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Chase Utley’s return to Philly was a memorable one. Philly fans gave him a 90 second standing ovation his first at bat. He then proceeded to send two balls out of the park, one a grand slam that just capped the game and the return of the Dodgers to their rightful place atop the NL West. 2 HRs in one at bat? Not even Ruth did that! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496/140 "2016-08-17T15:03:23Z")
The Giants suck. They are awful. Possibly the worst team in the history of baseball, at any level. There is no hope; all is lost. Of course, all of the above was every bit as true for a good chunk of August 2014…and that season ended up turning out OK. I’ll be over in the corner clinging to that last shroud of hope, if anybody needs me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2016/761496.md?page=8)